Curtain stretcher



March 7, 1944. R, MosKQs 2,343,695

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed July 27, 1943 Patented Mar. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT r'OFFICE CURTAIN s'rRE'roHER Y Rita Moskos, Chicago, Ill. E E y l Application July 27, 1943, seriai No. 496,323 f l claims. (01.45-24) This invention relates to improvements in curtain stretchers or devices employed for stretching and drying materials that have been treated in a solution and require subsequent stretching and drying.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means whereby more than one item may be stretched on a single stretcher frame-work.

Another object of my invention is to provide simple clamping means which will facilitate making adjustments of the curtain stretching elements comprising my invention.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stretcher which is simple in construction, practical and efficient in its operation, and one that is comprised of such simple elemental structure that it will lend itself readily to production economically in quantities.

Other objects, features and advantages resident in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawing and the ensuing description in which like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevational view of the composite elemental structure comprising my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of lFigure 2.

Fig. 4 is a staggered cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, more particularly, .to Figure 1, my invention is comprised of a horizontal beam 5, to which is secured a vertical beam 6, and an outer vertical beam 'I which is shown equipped with slidably adjustable ttings, the said outer beam `I, however, may be rigidly connected to the treminus of beam or bar 5 in like manner as the beam 6.

The frame-work comprised of the beams 5, 6 and 'I is further equipped with beams 9 and I9 which are cut out as indicated at I5, I6 and I'I in order to match the cut-out portions I8, I9 and 29 so that the bars 9 and Ii] can be co-extensibly aligned as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 1, for purposes to be hereinafter elucidated.

The frame-work is equipped, preferably, with a reinforcement strut at the center thereof designated 2I, having a slotted portion 22, adapted to receive the threaded bolts 23, having a ilat head 26, and a portion of the shank 22 square in section as indicated at 25, in order to prevent rotation of the bolts within the-slot-ZZ when the knob 24 is tightened or loosened. Y

The horizontal complementarybeams 9 and II) are rabbeted as shown at 21 in order that the top surface of Ythe knob 24 will occupy at all times a position below the eiectiveworking surface or plane within which the curtains are to be stretched and thus not interfere with the curtain or textile .material which may be stretched on the frame-work for drying.

I also provide an intermediate vertical bar 'I and another intermediate vertical bar 8 similar thereto except that the pointed pin elements 33 to which the textile or curtains are attached, are on opposite edges thereof, All of the beams, namely, 5, 5, 'I, 8, 9 and I9 are concavely rabbeted thruout their entire length as at 32 in order to provide a lower supporting surface for the pins 33. The end rod I and the intermediate rod 'I are exactly alike.V The said rods 'I and 8 are slidably and adjustably secured'to theupper beam or horizontal bar 5 by means of a clamp I I which is fastened under the bars 'I and 8 and have a projecting lug I3 extending from the clamp II, the said lug being suitably threaded in order to receive the clamp screw I2 whichbears on the clamping plate VI4 so as not tomar the bar 5.

The relative adjustment of the bars 'I and 8 with respect to the horizontal complementary bars 9 and I0 is effected thru the special clamping means illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 which comprise a unit, generally, designated 28 formed of a tubular sectional portion 29, being larger in cross-section than the thickness of the beam 9 as indicated, and being provided with a clamping plate 3l which has extensions 32 so that the said clamping plate 3| will not be displaced with respect to the tubular section 29.

The clamp screw 39 aids in effecting a binding pressure thru the plate 3I on the beam 9 which rests on the beam 1, the said beam 'I being supported in a U shaped extension 34, having a short leg 35 merely to prevent the said beam from lateral displacement, thus'when ythe clamp screw'3 is brought down to` bear onthey plate 3 I, a clamping action is eiective on the beam '9 withir'espect to the beam '1, thus holding thetw'origidly and frictionally together. The beam l is lodged within the recess 36 and the beam 9 being held in place by the tubular structure 29, thus beam 8 is secured slidably and adjustably to beam I0 permitting beams 9 and I0 to be moved towards beam 5, and permitting beams 'I and 3 to be moved toward or away from each other and toward or away from the beam 6.

As at present illustrated, the curtain supporting area provided by the setting shown in Figure 1, is comprised of the area conned within the upper portion of the beam 5, and the beam 9 and within the confines of the intermediate beam l and the vertical beam 6. The beam l0 as positioned coni-Ines a stretching area Within the space limited to the upper end portion of the beam 5, the beam I0, the outer beam l, and the beam 8. It can be seen, thus, that I provide a curtain stretching device of greater utility and emciency, whereas, if the present or standard curtain stretching frame were to be utilized and the frame were set to support a curtain within the confines of the beams 5, 9, 6 and 1, the remainder of the frame structure would occupy considerable space and would not be utilized. With my particular arrangement, another curtain of the same size or of a smaller or larger size could be fastened within the area to the right of the middle supporting strut 2| as heretofore elucidated.

It can be seen that with my improvement, the framework may be used to stretch a large curtain by aligning beams 9 and l!) and removing the intermediate beams l and 8, thus making available the maximum space conned between the beams 5, 6,*9 and I, and outer beam l. By the use of intermediate beams 'l and 8, an article may be stretched and supported on any fractional area within the connes of beams 5, 6 and intermediate beams 'I and 9, and another article may be supported and stretched on any fractional area of the area remaining between the confines of beams 5, 8, outer beam 'l and beam I0. The frame-work hence makes available a wide range of plural curtain stretching areas not provided by the present form of curtain stretchers on the market, making it possible to mount more than one curtain on a single frame at a time,

'Io adjust either of the horizontal bars 9 or lll it is merely necessary to loosen the respective clamp screws l2, 24 and 38, make the adjustment by sliding the bars S and I toward or awayfrom bar 5 and clamp when the desired setting is reached. To adjust the intermediate bars 'l or the bar 8, the loosening of the respective clamp screws l2 and 3B retaining the said members, sending the members l and 8 to the desired Aposition and clamping the screws 2 and 33 in binding engagement. The bars are suitably graduated to enable the operator to set them in proper position most conveniently.

I believe, I have herein indicated a novel arrangement of parts which together with the foregoing description clearly and succinctly reveal the nature and objects as well as the structure comprising my invention. Altho, it is susceptible of many alterations, modications and improvements, I hereby reserve all rights to such alterations, modifications and improvements that come within the scope and spirit of my invention, and within the purview of the accompanying drawing and the foregoing description. My invention is to be limited to the appended claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A curtain stretcher comprising, a top bar member, two vertical bar members one being rigidly and the other slidably and adjustably secured at each end of said top bar member, a vertical reinforcing strut member mounted substantially at the midpoint of said top bar member, and two complementary bar members slidably and adjustably secured to the said vertical bar members and independently secured to the said reinforcing strut member.

2. A curtain stretcher comprising, a top bar member, two vertical bar members one being rigidly and the other slidably and adjustably secured at each end of said top bar member, a vertical reinforcing strut member mounted substantially at the midpoint of said top bar member, and two complementary bar members slid- `ably and adjustably secured to the said vertical bar members and independently secured to the said reinforcing strut member, the said complementary bar members having adjoining notched ends adapted to align the said complementary bar members into one collinear structure.

3. A curtain stretcher comprising, a top bar member, two vertical bar members one being rigidly and the other slidably and adjustably secured at each end of said top bar member, a vertical reinforcing strut member mounted substantially at the midpoint of said top `bar member, two complementary bar members slidably and adjustably secured to the said vertical bar members and independently secured to the said reiniorcing strut member, and one intermediate bar member slidably and adjustably secured to the said top bar member and also to either of the said two complementary bar members.

4. A curtain stretcher comprising, a top bar member, two vertical bar members secured at each end of said top bar member, a vertical reinforcing strut member mounted substantially at the midpoint of said top bar member, two complementary bar members each slidably and adjustably secured to the said vertical bar members and the said reinforcing strut member, and two intermediate bar members each slidably and adjustably secured to the said top bar member and to one of said complementary bar members.

5. A curtain stretcher comprising, a top bar member, two vertical bar members one rigidly and the other slidably and adjustably secured at each end of said top bar member, a vertical reinforcing strut member mounted substantially at the midpoint of said top bar member, two complementary bar members slidably and adjustably secured to the said vertical bar members and independently secured to the said reinforcing strut member, and clamping means adapted to maintain in contiguous engaging relationship the said intermediate bar member and either of the said complementary bar members RITA MOSKOS. 

